New PC - Please Advice

[yamiLuceid]

Budget $1000~ CAD
Country: Canada

http://secure.newegg.ca/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=15853105

This is my first time building a PC. I've wanted to do this for years but picking the hardware parts is tedious. This will be use primarily for gaming MMORPGs, RTS, FPS and do lots of video encodings, thus I chose an i7. I'm gonna use my 24" LCD 1080p HDTV for main monitor as well as my very old 19" LCD for dual. Still had to throw an OS there as I have never bought an OS ever. All came with PC/laptops I bought.

With the parts chosen, I have in mind for a future proof build. Extra x16 slot for XF/Sli in the future(?).

Needing advice for a complete total newbie PC builder. I do know basic knowledge of the insides as I have done tweaking over the years of having a pre-built PC.

Thank you very much!!!

 

[geekapproved]

I would seriously consider going with the newer socket, s1155. The cpu's are faster and overclock better and use less power.

You should be looking at i7-2600K and P67 motherboard with a dual channel ram kit, something 1.5v, either 1333 or 1600mhz. (Gskill Ripjaws are quite popular)

You don't need 16x/16x for today's video cards, 8x/8x is just fine.

This setup should actually cost you about the same or less than the system your looking at. (with 8gb ram vs. 6gb)

I wouldn't recommend a WD Blue either, WD Black or Samsung Spinpoint is better choice.

There are better power supply choices for sure too. Raidmax is horrible stick with Corsair or Antec.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371021

If you plan to run crossfire and overclock your cpu, I would step up to a 750w unit.

 

[yamiLuceid]

Thank you very much for your input. I will look into those. Very well appreciated.

 

[imaurer269]

+1 here is a quick i7-2600k build with the same case + gpu u had as well as windows 7 but a better HDD and PSU for less than the build you have in the wish list(shipping is gonna be buzzkill I think)

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.622011 i7-2600k & ASUS P8P67 PRO
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015 Antec EarthWatts 650W
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145251 CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701 Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.620387 HD 6870 & free game

Toss in the HAF 922 & Windows 7 and total comes to $1070 with $40 in US dollar rebates
Could probably shave a few bucks with cheaper memory & case and also is this i7-2600k & MSI mobo combo for $50 less: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.622010

Edit: Might need a 750W PSU if u plan to crossfire I'm not an expert at how many watts you need I saw the power draw on the 6870 CF was only 415 under load tho

 

[geekapproved]

You can read up on the new platform here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sandy-bridge-core-i7-2600k-core-i5-2500k,2833.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sandy-bridge-overclocking-efficiency,2850.html

The diff between i5-2500K and i7-2600K is basically the 2600K has hyperthreading (which would really help with your video encoding).

 

[jmsellars1]

That build looks ok but personally i think you would be better off with the 1155 socket, those CPU's are highly overclockable and you will save money on the motherboard and probably end up with 8GB of RAM. I came up with a better build which went about $100 over budget, if someone could find $100 to save in the following build it should be great.

Intel Core i5-2600k - $319.99
ASUS P8P67 PRO - $184.99
Corsair XMS3 2x4GB 1600Mhz - $95.49 (Before $15 Rebate)
Galaxy GTX 560Ti (Fermi) - $225.99 (Before $30 Rebate)
Antec 300 - $74.99
Antec Earthwatts 750W - $99.99
Seagate Barracuda 500GB 6GB/s - $39.99
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - $109.99

Total: $1151 Before Rebates/Shipping

That would be a much better build i think. (if you can up your budget) If you can't i would give up with SLI/crossfire in future and go down to a cheaper P67 Motherboard and a 600W PSU. I wouldn't worry about futureproofing because it would be just as easy to sell your old card and buy a better single card when the time comes. I think the price would then drop to around $1000. Good luck.

 

[jmsellars1]

Wow that was quick on the replies . By the way i got those prices from newegg.ca

 

[geekapproved]

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-2010/compare,2418.html?prod%5B4785%5D=on&prod%5B4475%5D=on

Check how much faster in Video Encoding alone the 2600K is over the 950.

 

[yamiLuceid]

So many replies, so little time! Thank you everyone. You're probably right about not needing SLI or XF for futureproofing. I'm not really that hardcore in graphics. Prefer high, but very smooth FPS medium is just fine and dandy for me.

EDIT: @GeekApproved: Thank you for those articles. Very awesome.

 

[jmsellars1]

If youre happy without SLI i'd definitely go with something like the build i posted but change the mobo for something along the lines of ASUS P8P67-M and around 550-600W PSU. I think just about every part of that build would improve on the one you suggested. Hope that helps

 

[yamiLuceid]

Can't save to wish list because of combo items.

Can I get away with this PSU:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339025

Previous:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

I ditched SLI/XF and went with the combo i7-2600K and MSI:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.622010
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701 Seagate 7200 500GB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145251 Corsair 4GB 1333
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.620387 same GPU
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197 same casae HAF 922

$978.41 before taxes, shipping, rebates.
$1144 with everything (-$40 MIR total)

Anyways, main question. The PSU, can I get away with that? Lots of reviews and seem...OK(?)

 

[jmsellars1]

If you looked at reviews and they look ok then you'll be ok i think but just so you know, there is an OCZ StealthXstream II on newegg.ca at $40 after the rebate (600W)

 

[yamiLuceid]

Nice, missed that. Thank you. I used PSU Calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine
2 5400 HDDs, 1 7200 HDD, 4USB devices, fans, etc. etc. , says the recommended is 481W. Would I be just fine with 600W? I don't know how good that calculator is.

EDIT: Or maybe I can even get away with 550W?
EDIT2: For 550W: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

 

[imaurer269]

Nice, missed that. Thank you. I used PSU Calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine
2 5400 HDDs, 1 7200 HDD, 4USB devices, fans, etc. etc. , says the recommended is 481W. Would I be just fine with 600W? I don't know how good that calculator is.

EDIT: Or maybe I can even get away with 550W?
EDIT2: For 550W: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

If you don't plan on crossfire/sli 550 should be more than plenty as long as it's a good PSU. A lot of junk PSU will say 600 but might only give you 520 max. That antec is a solid PSU and the OCZ isn't too bad either. I don't know anything about that HEC PSU but I wouldn't put it anything I built unless I was using 2-3 year old used parts lol. I would go with that Antec u linked and not think twice about it. Modular PSU's are nice because they decrease clutter.

 

[yamiLuceid]

If you don't plan on crossfire/sli 550 should be more than plenty as long as it's a good PSU. A lot of junk PSU will say 600 but might only give you 520 max. That antec is a solid PSU and the OCZ isn't too bad either. I don't know anything about that HEC PSU but I wouldn't put it anything I built unless I was using 2-3 year old used parts lol. I would go with that Antec u linked and not think twice about it. Modular PSU's are nice because they decrease clutter.

Thank you very much! I will definitely get it. Thank you for all the help!

 

[jmsellars1]

Those PSU calculators are relatively accurate but if you want to factor in max load and capacitor aging you should round the number up a fair bit, if it says 480w, personally i'd go for 600W

EDIT: Screw it get that Antec one, 550W is enough power and modular PSU's are sexy . Good Luck

 

[yamiLuceid]

Best answer selected by yamiLuceid.